This study compared the quantity and quality of social group memberships in patients with anorexia nervosa (n = 30), carers of patients with anorexia nervosa, unrelated to those patients (n = 30), and two cohorts of healthy controls (n = 60) age-matched to these focal groups. A secondary aim was to examine the associations between the quality of group relationships and severity of eating disorder and depression symptoms in patients; and depression symptoms in carers. Participants completed the online Social Identity Mapping Tool, which was used to measure the quantity and quality of social group memberships (e.g., number of social groups, number of groups rated ‘highly positive’). Participants also completed self-report measures of clinical symptoms. Compared to controls, patients reported fewer social groups when eating disorder-related groups were included, and significantly fewer social groups, and community groups in particular, when eating disorder-related groups were excluded. Number of positive groups was negatively associated with severity of eating disorder and depression symptoms in patients when eating disorder-related groups were excluded. Carers reported fewer groups overall, fewer family groups, and fewer positive and supportive groups compared to healthy controls. There was a weak association between the number of positive groups and the severity of depression symptoms in carers. Positive group memberships might play a protective role towards developing more severe eating disorder and depression symptoms.

中文翻译：

---

对饮食失调患者、照顾者和健康对照者的社会群体成员资格的检查

本研究比较了神经性厌食症患者（n  = 30）、与这些患者无关的神经性厌食症患者的照顾者（n  = 30）和两个健康对照组（n = 60) 与这些焦点群体年龄匹配。次要目的是检查群体关系质量与患者进食障碍和抑郁症状严重程度之间的关联；和照顾者的抑郁症状。参与者完成了在线社会身份映射工具，该工具用于衡量社会群体成员的数量和质量（例如，社会群体的数量，被评为“高度积极”的群体的数量）。参与者还完成了临床症状的自我报告测量。与对照组相比，当包括饮食失调相关群体时，患者报告的社会群体较少，而当排除饮食失调相关群体时，社会群体尤其是社区群体显着减少。当排除进食障碍相关组时，阳性组的数量与患者进食障碍和抑郁症状的严重程度呈负相关。与健康对照组相比，护理人员报告的总体群体更少，家庭群体更少，积极和支持群体更少。阳性组的数量与护理人员抑郁症状的严重程度之间存在弱关联。积极的团体成员身份可能对发展更严重的饮食失调和抑郁症状起到保护作用。阳性组的数量与护理人员抑郁症状的严重程度之间存在弱关联。积极的团体成员身份可能对发展更严重的饮食失调和抑郁症状起到保护作用。阳性组的数量与护理人员抑郁症状的严重程度之间存在弱关联。积极的团体成员身份可能对发展更严重的饮食失调和抑郁症状起到保护作用。